Home invasion no April Fools

Published 8:00 pm, Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Two men have been arrested in connection to a Larkin Township home invasion, and a warrant has been issued for a third suspect.

Midland County Sheriff Jerry Nielsen said Steven Bailey Mashue, 23, Midland, was arrested Tuesday night. He is being held on a $5 million cash bond and is awaiting arraignment.

The Midland County Prosecutor's Office has authorized charges of attempted homicide, first-degree home invasion, unlawful imprisonment, felony firearms and habitual fourth offender against Mashue, Nielsen said. The most serious of the charges is punishable by up to life in prison.

Officials say he will be arraigned today. Nielsen was mum on the details of the case but said more information about the case will be released at an 11 a.m. press conference. See www.ourMidland.com for an update after that release.

The second arrest was made in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That man, whose name has not yet been released, also is being held on a $5 million cash bond.

The home invasion occurred on April 1 at an East Mier Road home. Deputies were called there after a man wearing all black clothing and a ski mask forced his way inside at 7 a.m. and brandished a weapon. The victims, a 43-year-old woman and her 13-year-old son, were tied up and held captive for about 20 minutes.

The man left the home, taking the woman's car. It later was recovered at the nearby Midland City Forest.

Michigan State Police, the Department of Natural Resources and Cedar Rapids Police also were involved in the investigation.

According the the Department of Corrections website, Mashue is a probationer in Isabella County. He was sentenced in January 2008 for a drug offense, and his conditions include no possessions of weapons. His previous convictions are dangerous weapons and malicious destruction of property.